What Are the Various Exercises
to Relieve TMJ?

No matter
how much the media tries to manipulate you in buying
hoards of over-the-counter TMJ medications, make sure
that you donít touch them for the simple reason that
these may not offer you the permanent TMJ treatment that
you need. Moreover, most of these much advertised pills,
drugs or tablets are only addressed to TMJ symptoms and
not the disease itself.†

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Practicing
TMJ exercises on a daily basis is vital for relief from
the TMJ syndrome. Meanwhile, it may be appropriate to
get acquainted with the anatomical features of this
composite joint in order to appreciate the utility of
these exercises better.

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While most
joints in our body either work as simple hinges as in
the knee or elbow or perform as free-moving ball and
socket joint as in the hips or the shoulder, the
temporomandibular joint functions in a different way.
This uncharacteristic joint where the mandible joins the
temporal bone of the skull works partly as a hinge,
facilitates the opening and closing of the jaw and then
slides forward a bit to ensure appropriate bite. Without
the aid of this dual-functioning joint, we could neither
open or close our mouth nor be able to chew any food.
And here are the exercises given in detail so that you
can easily perform these within the privacy of your home
and lead a symptom-free life.

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TMJ
Exercise 1

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Move your
tongue to touch the roof of your mouth and then open
your mouth as much as possible. Hold the tongue in the
same position and breathe in slowly for ten seconds
after which, you will need to breathe out slowly for
another ten seconds. Bring back the tongue in the normal
position, wait for ten seconds and then repeat the
performance several times. This will relieve the tension
in the jaw which in turn will relieve the
pain.

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TMJ
Exercise 2

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Use your
fist to prop the chin by placing it right under the
lower mandible. Now, start pushing the fist against the
chin, while at the same time trying to open the jaw. The
isometric energy developed through the process will help
relax the mandible as long as this exercise is
continued. However, as a precautionary measure, abort
the exercise if the jaw clicks at any point since this
may cause permanent injury to the joint, leading to
further pain and discomfort. Nevertheless, keep on doing
this exercise for ten seconds if the clicking does not
occur. After the scheduled time release the pressure,
close the mouth, wait for ten/fifteen seconds and then
start again. In the event of the jaw clicking during the
beginning of the exercise, you may temporarily abandon
the process, give rest to the jaw and then start all
over again.

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TMJ
Exercise 3

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Create a
fairly tight fist with your right hand and push it
against the right side of your jaw immediately below the
jaw joint. Retain a steady pressure against the jaw for
ten seconds before releasing it for the time being.
Repeat the same procedure for the left jaw joint by
using your left hand. In fact, you can perform it for
both joints simultaneously for ten seconds and then
release pressure at the same time. The isometric energy
so developed in this case will help relax jaw muscles in
both the joints, thereby relieving your TMJ
pain.

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TMJ
Exercise 4

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Utilize
the index finger of both hands to press against both
sides of the temporomandibular joint, allowing medium
pressure immediately below the joints. Abort if jaw
clicks and then start all over again. Try to maintain
uniform pressure at both the joints which will retrain
the jaw to open and close in perfect alignment. This
exercise proves ideal for those suffering from
misaligned jaw and allied problems.

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TMJ
Exercise 5

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This mode
of TMJ exercise is somewhat risky and is, therefore, not
recommended to TMJ patients that have fallen victim to
chronic jaw pain and allied tribulations. Nevertheless,
it works fine with those who have been diagnosed with
TMJ disorder earlier and have responded well with the
previous calisthenics. Since the temporomandibular joint
is capable of dual performance Ė one working as a hinge
while the other allows the mandible to slide forward to
facilitate proper bite, this exercise rejuvenates the
functional properties of both the actions, thereby
helping the joint to perform better. However, it entails
holding the chin with the forefinger and the thumb and
then giving it a slight shake every alternate ten
second. The chin may also be pulled out and pushed in,
imitating the TMJ mode of functioning. As a
precautionary measure, it should be aborted as soon as
any pain or inconvenience is felt during the
performance.

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Seeking
Permanent TMJ Relief

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Natural
exercises for TMJ may help, particularly to remove the
symptoms that are associated with the disease. But the
fact is, the real causes of the disease remain within
the body. And this is precisely where holistic remedies
can help. Treating the body as a whole, holistic
remedies seek out all the contributing factors and then
eradicate them. Thus, rather than treating the symptoms,
the main causes are treated, and thus the signs of TMJ
also go away. The remedy is also permanent.